Second division beasts burden Crewe
Second division beasts burden Crewe
THE quality of cattle on offer took the edge off the trade at last weeks show and sale of Holstein Friesians for the North Western Breeders Club at Crewe.
And prices eased in comparison with the early January fixture at this venue.
"Averages were still well up on the autumn but some of the older calved heifers were more difficult to sell," commented David Briggs of auctioneers Wright-Manley.
It was a calved heifer by Singing-Brook Benchmark, paraded by Richard Ratcliffe, that took the championship under judge Mr Ian Garnett of the Fullersgate herd.
Airway BM Laceylike, was ET-bred in Mr Ratcliffes herd at Nantwich, Cheshire, though the herd was originally established on land that now forms part of Manchester Airport.
Laceylike calved in early December and her Blackstar Ex92 dam gave 13,900kg in her third and most recent lactation.
Buyers at 3000gns were B Kennerley and Son, Altrincham.
Aberdeenshire-based Concraig Dairies were major purchasers taking 23 lots.
Their highest bid was 1680gns for Fidlers Tesk Naomi, a Valiant Rockie heifer that had been calved two weeks and was consigned by A Boughey and Son, Shrewsbury. Her dam had no records but was by Meadowbridge Five Star.
Greatgate Lindy Knierke 5th, A Townson Lindy heifer from M G Gent, Stoke-on-Trent realised 1620gns to Shutt and Mansell, Newport, Shropshire. She had a Pedigree Index of 821 and PIN+ £38 and was out of a MMB Dunco Bootmaster cow.
Best of the bull bids was 1700gns given for Andrew and Jane Whittakers Knowlesmere Dictator, an ET-bred son of Dombinator and out of a Prelude dam that was reserve All Britain Calf in 1994. Buyers were T Lee Sherwin Ltd, Middlewich.
AVERAGES: 35 cows £947; 123 heifers £1079 & 11 bulls £1013 (Wright-Manley).